Understanding OSHA’s Fall Prevention Campaign: Step 2 — Provide
In January, we covered the basics of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Fall Prevention Campaign. To recap, falls are the number one cause of death in construction. In 2013, 35% of all fatalities in the industry were falls to a lower level.
In an effort to curb — and hopefully completely eliminate — these preventable fatalities, OSHA has rolled out a three-step Fall Prevention Campaign. Designed to educate both employers and workers, the initiative highlights the importance of proper planning, providing, and training. The planning stage was covered in last month’s post, so today’s focus is providing.
Providing the Proper Equipment Can Save Lives
When workers climb six or more feet above ground level, they’re at a risk for serious injury or death if they fall. As an employer, you are required to provide fall protection and the right equipment for the job — ladders, scaffolds, and safety gear — to keep them safe.
Simply having a ladder or scaffold on hand won’t cut it, because specific equipment needed varies by job. Prior to starting work, carefully assess the situation to determine the best equipment for the job, and don’t allow work to begin until the right ladder, scaffold, and safety gear is present.
If your team is working on a roof, there are many safety measures you can take to protect them. For example, personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) effectively harness each person involved in tying off to the anchor. Before each use, make sure the PFAS fits the worker who needs to wear it and carefully inspect the device to make sure it’s still in good working order.
Nothing is More Important Than Safety
Ensuring all necessary equipment is onsite and safe to use may take a little extra time and add to your expenses, but it’s an investment you can’t afford to pass up. The health and safety of your team always comes first, so never treat them as anything less than your top priority.
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